University of Florida mechanical and aerospace engineering associate professor Subrata Roy has submitted a patent application for a circular, spinning aircraft design reminiscent of the spaceships seen in countless Hollywood films. Roy, however, calls his design a “wingless electromagnetic air vehicle,” or WEAV.

The proposed prototype is small – the aircraft will measure less than six inches across – and will be efficient enough to be powered by on-board batteries.

Roy said the design can be scaled up and theoretically should work in a much larger form. Even in miniature, though, the design has many uses.

New research from the American Museum of Natural History says that global warming is forcing species to move up tropical mountains. Christopher Raxworthy, Associate Curator in the Department of Herpetology, predicts that at least three species of amphibians and reptiles found in Madagascar's mountainous north could go extinct between 2050 and 2100 because of habitat loss associated with rising global temperatures.

These species, currently moving up-slope to compensate for habitat loss at lower and warmer altitudes, will eventually have no place to move to. The mountains can only go so high.

In a paper published this month in Global Change Biology, Raxworthy and colleagues found overall trends for elevation changes among 30 species of amphibians and reptiles. Uphill movement is a predicted response to increased temperatures, and other studies, including that of J. Alan Pounds in Costa Rica, have provided some empirical evidence of how tropical animals respond to climate change.

LONDON, June 13 /PRNewswire/ --

LONDON, June 13 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photos

The Toyota Yaris has been named Green Car of the Year 2008 by the Environmental Transport Association. The least green car is the Dodge SRT-10 sports car. The announcements come ahead of the start of Green Transport Week (14th - 22nd June)

The Environmental Transport Association has looked at over 1300 models of car currently on sale in Britain and examined their power, emissions, fuel efficiency and even the amount of noise they produce to create the definitive guide to buying the greenest vehicle.

REDMOND, Washington, June 12 /PRNewswire/ --

Microsoft Corp. today issued the following statement:

"In the weeks since Microsoft withdrew its offer to acquire Yahoo!, the two companies have continued to discuss an alternative transaction that Microsoft believes would have delivered in excess of US$33 per share to the Yahoo! shareholders. This partnership would ensure healthy competition in the marketplace, providing greater choice and innovation for advertisers, publishers and consumers.

"As stated on May 3rd and reiterated on May 18th Microsoft was not interested in rebidding for all of Yahoo!. Our alternative transaction remains available for discussion."

About Microsoft

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, June 12 /PRNewswire/ --

ProQuest, a Cambridge Information Group company, has signed an agreement under which ProQuest would acquire the Thomson Reuters Dialog(R) business. The transaction is expected to close pending a successful completion of the formal consultation period and other customary closing conditions. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.

The acquisition of Dialog would allow ProQuest to deepen its penetration in the corporate library and professional research markets with a valued brand, authoritative content and precision search tools.

CLEVELAND, June 12 /PRNewswire/ --

"H. H. Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the sea of St. Mark, underwent a one-hour surgery at the Cleveland Clinic this morning to repair his broken left femur after he suffered a fall. The surgery was successful and he is recovering well. He will remain in the hospital for approximately one week and then receive physical rehabilitation as a part of his recovery," said Wael Barsoum, M.D., orthopaedic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic.

Web site: http://www.clevelandclinic.org

Eileen Sheil, Cleveland Clinic, +1-216-444-8927

MIAMI, June 12 /PRNewswire/ --

- Former Jabra Executive Morten Steen-Jorgensen Named President & CEO of Brightstar Accessories

Brightstar Corp., one of the largest wireless device distribution and supply chain solutions companies in the world, announced today it has formed a new global accessories company called Brightstar Accessories. The new company, headquartered in Miami, will focus on the procurement, marketing, sales and distribution of innovative mobile device accessories to operator, retail and dealer customers worldwide.

According to a report issued by ABI Research in February 2008, mobile phone accessory worldwide sales in 2008 will exceed US$40 Billion, with that number expected to double by 2012.

YOQNEAM, Israel and SAN RAMON, California, June 12 /PRNewswire/ --

- Study Will Evaluate Safety and Effectiveness of Contour Plus(TM) Device

UltraShape(R), a global leader in non-invasive fat reduction and body contouring, today announced the commencement of its pivotal IDE (Investigational Device Exemption) study to evaluate Contour Plus(TM), the first non-invasive device for fat reduction and body contouring using non-thermal selective focused ultrasound.

ROSEAU, Commonwealth of Dominica, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuftec Limited, the proprietor of the original nano-particulate cerium Oxide fuel catalyst technology, today commenced patent infringement litigation in the UK against Oxonica Energy Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxonica PLC . The proceedings, issued in the High Court of Justice, allege infringement of Neuftec's European patent.

The proceedings seek an injunction against Oxonica as well as damages in relation to product already sold and delivery up or destruction of all articles that would infringe Neuftec's European patent.